The Management Game is a real-world, real-time immersive learning experience for MBA elective students.
Real Companies • Real Decisions • Real Impact
The Opportunity
Transform your MBA/EMBA program with proven action learning that places students in actual C-suite roles within real companies. Students develop authentic executive decision-making skills with real-time stakeholder feedback that AI tools cannot replicate.
The Experience
- CEO-level briefing on a live business challenge
- Strategy development with C-suite mentors
- Board presentation with real decisions
Outcome: Enhanced employability & executive-level confidence
Format Options
- 5-day intensive
- Two 2.5 day modules
- Up to 80% on-site
- Fully customisable
Delivery Options
- Local: Regional partners
- Global: International immersion
- Hybrid delivery
Proven Results
- Teaching Excellence Awards
- 90%+ satisfaction rate
- Recruitment pipeline
Why this Program is Different?
Traditional Simulations
- Computer-based scenarios
- Fictional data
- Academic evaluation
- Simulated outcomes
- No career connection
The Management Game
- Real company challenges
- Actual financial statements
- C-suite executive assessment
- Real business impact
- Direct recruitment pipeline
AI-Proof Assessments
Real-time board presentations with immediate C-suite questioning cannot be generated by AI. Students must think, respond, and defend their strategy dynamically.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Management Game
Q. How do you manage confidentiality? A: We take client confidentiality very seriously, so every participant signs a strict NDA, and attend a presentation on what it means in a practical sense.
Q. How do you ensure participants aren’t working for competitors? A: we screen for this to ensure competitors aren’t on client projects.
Q. How many participants are there on a project? A: Typically around 4 teams of 4-5 (total 16 to 20) participants yields the best quality outcomes.
Q. What is your pricing model? A. Email us to find out about pricing.
Q. We have some donors, supporters or organisational friends who may be interested in joining the program – is this possible? A: yes, we’re always on the lookout for suitable clients, so feel free to talk to us. Of course, each client must align with timing, access, and Project suitability.
What They Say…
Neil Doncaster is a highly experienced senior executive with over three decades of leadership experience in complex, high-pressure organisations. His career includes serving as CEO of a Premier League football club and leading large, multi-stakeholder organisations operating under intense public and media scrutiny. He has extensive experience in strategic leadership, governance, crisis management, and executive decision-making in dynamic environments. He has led and co-led multiple rounds of The Management Game since its inception at the University of Liverpool in 2006/7:
“Having helped lead and deliver The Management Game over many years, I have seen first-hand how closely it mirrors the realities of senior leadership. The scenarios are deliberately dynamic and creative, requiring participants to make decisions under dramatic time pressure and with imperfect information. What consistently stands out is the need to think on your feet while communicating calmly and clearly as situations evolve. The addition of a simulated media spotlight introduces a further layer of scrutiny, forcing leaders to manage reputation and narrative alongside strategy. From a business perspective, this combination reveals leadership capability in a way that few classroom-based exercises ever can.”
Nic Barbato is a senior executive with extensive experience leading complex organisations, driving commercial strategy, and managing high-profile stakeholder environments across international markets:
“What stood out most about The Management Game was how effectively it revealed the leadership behaviours that emerge when multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and reputational considerations collide. Rather than focusing purely on analysis, the experience challenged participants to balance judgment, communication, and accountability in real time. It provided a powerful reminder that leadership effectiveness is often defined not by the decision itself, but by how that decision is explained, coordinated, and executed across an organisation. The insights gained from that experience continue to influence how I approach complex organisational challenges today.”
READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR MBA/EMBA EXPERIENCE?
Contact: Dr Roger Levermore | Email: roger@arcus.education